Short top panel on garage door

[ElliottG]

Hi guys

I have an 8 foot tall garage door right now. I would like to make my door as tall as possible (not worried about the framing, that's the easy part, nothing load bearing, also not worried about how it looks, it's on the side of a barn).

What I'm wondering is if it's possible to have a garage door with a shorter top panel. My panels are 24 inches tall (96 inches), but my ceiling is 10ft (120 inches), exactly.

So you can see that having 5 panels in stock condition would be 120 inches, and thus a bit too close to make it work.

I was thinking if I cut the top panel down to have just enough room for the torsion spring and bar, etc on top of it.

Anyone have this done before? Also wondering about maybe some low headroom kit I would need to get?

 

[The Cobbler]

you're looking at a 9' tall door , unless you go to a roll up on the outside of the building

 

[TurnipTruck]

I cut down some dented 16’ panels to make a 6x6 overhead door for a shed, and there is no structure to take a screw after the ends are cut off. I eventually had to pop rivet the hinges to the door panels. Cutting longwise would remove even more strength unless you added some channel or a 2x6, and then I’m not sure a stubby panel would make it around the curved track with the height of the uppermost hinges necessary.

 

[Skooterj]

Hi guys

I have an 8 foot tall garage door right now. I would like to make my door as tall as possible (not worried about the framing, that's the easy part, nothing load bearing, also not worried about how it looks, it's on the side of a barn).

What I'm wondering is if it's possible to have a garage door with a shorter top panel. My panels are 24 inches tall (96 inches), but my ceiling is 10ft (120 inches), exactly.

So you can see that having 5 panels in stock condition would be 120 inches, and thus a bit too close to make it work.

I was thinking if I cut the top panel down to have just enough room for the torsion spring and bar, etc on top of it.

Anyone have this done before? Also wondering about maybe some low headroom kit I would need to get?

Standard Garage doors have panels available in 18", 21" and 24". Some manufacturers also make 19.2", 28" and 32".

My 8 foot tall doors have a 21" top and bottom panel, and the three in the middle are all 18". I could have done four 24" panels, but the smaller panels operate smoother.

 

[reader2580]

A 12" panel is not a standard size if you want a nine foot tall door. You typically need 12" of clearance for a low headroom track. A brand new nine foot tall would be six 18" tall panels. You might be able to replace a 24" panel with two 18" panels, but would look a bit goofy most likely.

 

[ElliottG]

you're looking at a 9' tall door , unless you go to a roll up on the outside of the building

Right. I should have mentioned I have more of the same 24" panels that I have, not looking to buy a new door

 

[ElliottG]

Anyone else have any experience doing this?